New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Dolores
Since my sister has accquired two finches, now named Fitzpatrick and Dolores, I've been thinking about this name. I adore Doris, but Dolores always sounded sad to me. But associating it with an adorable little bird (who "has a necklace"--the little black line above her white breast is the easiest way to tell her apart from Fitzpatrick) has definitely improved it in my mind. Rather than thinking of Our Lady of Sorrows, I'm picturing a classy lady in a tea dress and pearls. :) (And I'm humming "Dolores, I live in fear. My love for you is so strong that I feel that I will disappear." How romantic is that, ha?)
Does Dolores work in this day and age? With the nickname Dolly, even? I'd never use Lola, or (heaven forbid) Lolita. And what of Doris--am I alone in loving names that end in -is, like Doris, Avis, Mavis, Elvis, Damaris, Dennis, Janis, Jarvis, Phyllis, Tanis, etc? Their terminally dated sound is part of the appeal for me. Do you prefer Dolores or Doris? And finally, do you have anything exciting to share with me? :D
Array
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Does Dolores work in this day and age? With the nickname Dolly, even? I'd never use Lola, or (heaven forbid) Lolita. And what of Doris--am I alone in loving names that end in -is, like Doris, Avis, Mavis, Elvis, Damaris, Dennis, Janis, Jarvis, Phyllis, Tanis, etc? Their terminally dated sound is part of the appeal for me. Do you prefer Dolores or Doris? And finally, do you have anything exciting to share with me? :D
Array
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
This message was edited 3/20/2006, 12:18 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I have never liked Dolores, but especially after the Seinfeld episode where Jerry can't remember his date's name and she tells him it rhymes with a part of the female anatomy. It takes him a while to figure it out and only at the end does it come to him! So if anything I find it a humorous name, but not one I'd ever use.
1
I've known many a Delores (only a couple were Dolores) over the years, all of which were 'older' women. Only one had a nn, and that was Dee. I used to dislike it but it's started to grow on me a bit. Dolly could definitely work as a nn for Dolores, but I don't care for Dolly myself. Delly or Della could work for Delores.
Doris is ok, but I've known many of those as well, including a cousin. I tend to not like names as well if I have a lot of people that I can associate with them, which may have something to do with why I like less popular names. :b
I've never thought about it, but I'm not that crazy about most -is names. Except for Curtis, which I adore (my 10-year-old nephew having that name doesn't hurt, lol). And then there's Candis, my sister, who was named after my aunt, spelled the same way. (We're all pretty sure our grandparents just didn't know how to spell Candice/Candace. :-/) Many of the -is names have that '60s and '70s feel, and most of those names, imo, aren't yet ready for a comeback. But I'm particularly interested in old-fashioned names at the moment, which I guess means older than the 1920s. :)
~Heather~
Doris is ok, but I've known many of those as well, including a cousin. I tend to not like names as well if I have a lot of people that I can associate with them, which may have something to do with why I like less popular names. :b
I've never thought about it, but I'm not that crazy about most -is names. Except for Curtis, which I adore (my 10-year-old nephew having that name doesn't hurt, lol). And then there's Candis, my sister, who was named after my aunt, spelled the same way. (We're all pretty sure our grandparents just didn't know how to spell Candice/Candace. :-/) Many of the -is names have that '60s and '70s feel, and most of those names, imo, aren't yet ready for a comeback. But I'm particularly interested in old-fashioned names at the moment, which I guess means older than the 1920s. :)
~Heather~
1
Dolores- I just can't get past the meaning. It looks dolorous, too. Dolly, Lola and Lolita aren't selling points, either- so unless I encounter a character (real or fictional) to counter the grey and painful image I associate with this name- I think it works for pets, but not people. Sorry!
I vastly prefer Doris. Doris, nn Dory or Dot- if only I could persuade my DH! Or Mavis (typing programme? What typing progamme?!), or Phyllis...I hope the fathers of the next generation come around to those names, seeing as the current crop are stick-in-the-muds. LOL.
Their terminally dated sound is part of the appeal for me
Are names ever really terminally dated? Just a rhetorical question... My eldest siblings (born in the sixties) can't believe some of the names we (as in, the siblings born between 1975 and 1980) are considering for our kids. I took a quick peek at your profile- you're about 10 years younger than me- so maybe when the bulk of your generation start have kids a decade from now, maybe Doris and Jarvis will be the new Lucy and Oliver...? Perhaps not Jarvis, but I can certainly see Doris as a comeback name.
sa
I vastly prefer Doris. Doris, nn Dory or Dot- if only I could persuade my DH! Or Mavis (typing programme? What typing progamme?!), or Phyllis...I hope the fathers of the next generation come around to those names, seeing as the current crop are stick-in-the-muds. LOL.
Their terminally dated sound is part of the appeal for me
Are names ever really terminally dated? Just a rhetorical question... My eldest siblings (born in the sixties) can't believe some of the names we (as in, the siblings born between 1975 and 1980) are considering for our kids. I took a quick peek at your profile- you're about 10 years younger than me- so maybe when the bulk of your generation start have kids a decade from now, maybe Doris and Jarvis will be the new Lucy and Oliver...? Perhaps not Jarvis, but I can certainly see Doris as a comeback name.
sa
This message was edited 3/20/2006, 9:07 PM
1
Dolores means "pains"
I'm a labor nurse in Texas, and I deal with a great many Spanish-only patients from Mexico and other points south. When I am asking them about their contractions, I sometimes use the word "contracciones" but find that they almost always say "dolores" or "dolores de abajo," which is "pains down below." I guess if I didn't know what it meant...no, I still wouldn't care for it. And I'm not even that concerned with the HP reference. Sounds old, even if you don't know what it means. Sorry.
I'm a labor nurse in Texas, and I deal with a great many Spanish-only patients from Mexico and other points south. When I am asking them about their contractions, I sometimes use the word "contracciones" but find that they almost always say "dolores" or "dolores de abajo," which is "pains down below." I guess if I didn't know what it meant...no, I still wouldn't care for it. And I'm not even that concerned with the HP reference. Sounds old, even if you don't know what it means. Sorry.
1
Dolores is my grandmothers name. She threatened my mom's life if she ever named any of her daughters Dolores. (I think she spells it Delores though)
Delores, too me, is a name for older people. Doris as well. I don't really like either of them.
♥ Kristen ♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shake Your Body Like A Bellydancer.
Here is where you are
There is where you want to be
But you can't get there from here ♥
Delores, too me, is a name for older people. Doris as well. I don't really like either of them.
♥ Kristen ♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shake Your Body Like A Bellydancer.
Here is where you are
There is where you want to be
But you can't get there from here ♥
1
I like the -is ending. Avis, Iris, Eris, Agnes... For some reason, though I don't like Dolores. I appreaciate it as an unusual name, but its nms. I don't know about the nn Dolly. I always think "Hello Dolly" but I think I'm in the minority, associating the name with that musical, at least, in my age group.
Arcadia
It's just an object
It doesn't mean what you think
SigBy
EatFruityOatyBars
Arcadia
It's just an object
It doesn't mean what you think
SigBy
EatFruityOatyBarsThis message was edited 3/20/2006, 1:25 PM
1
I really like the name Delores. I choose not to think of the "dolor" connection. It has such an elegant, by-gone era charm to it.
While I too like many "-is" names (Mavis, Damaris, Phyllis, Artemis, Glynis, Lois, Iris, Eirlys), I can't find it in my heart to warm up to Doris. Dora, yes, but not Doris. It has a very clunky feeling to it. But since I love seeing almost any name being revived, meeting a little Doris would still tickle me pink. It's the endangered species lover in me, I guess. I don't care for Ethel, but wouldn't it be sweet to be introduced to one? It would be sort of a time machine feeling. Fun.
While I too like many "-is" names (Mavis, Damaris, Phyllis, Artemis, Glynis, Lois, Iris, Eirlys), I can't find it in my heart to warm up to Doris. Dora, yes, but not Doris. It has a very clunky feeling to it. But since I love seeing almost any name being revived, meeting a little Doris would still tickle me pink. It's the endangered species lover in me, I guess. I don't care for Ethel, but wouldn't it be sweet to be introduced to one? It would be sort of a time machine feeling. Fun.
1
I'm sorry, but how can a minor fictional character carry that much weight?
I do know what you mean. There are times when one bad association can change my opinion of a name. But usually those are real life people. Even then, I can choose to ignore them*.
I can understand a famous literary character like Juliet or Guinevere taking a name over in one's mind. But is Dolores Umbridge really so formidable?
I don't mean to harang you. It's just that I'd hate to think a great name like Delores isn't getting due consideration because of one minor character from a children's book.
* Imelda Marcos didn't ruin Imelda for me. Eamonn (de Valera) was a discredited name in my (IRB) Irish grandfather's house. But I love the name anyway. And why not? It's gorgeous.
I do know what you mean. There are times when one bad association can change my opinion of a name. But usually those are real life people. Even then, I can choose to ignore them*.
I can understand a famous literary character like Juliet or Guinevere taking a name over in one's mind. But is Dolores Umbridge really so formidable?
I don't mean to harang you. It's just that I'd hate to think a great name like Delores isn't getting due consideration because of one minor character from a children's book.
* Imelda Marcos didn't ruin Imelda for me. Eamonn (de Valera) was a discredited name in my (IRB) Irish grandfather's house. But I love the name anyway. And why not? It's gorgeous.
1
Yes, it can
I actually completely agree with Triwizard and Chrisell. She isn't minor, she's icky and nasty and I can't stand the name because of her! By the way, they aren't just for children. I know many adults who love them as much as I do!
Oh, also: I don't feel any influence from Juliet at all. It's my favorite girls name, funnily enough!
I actually completely agree with Triwizard and Chrisell. She isn't minor, she's icky and nasty and I can't stand the name because of her! By the way, they aren't just for children. I know many adults who love them as much as I do!
Oh, also: I don't feel any influence from Juliet at all. It's my favorite girls name, funnily enough!
1
I'm guessing that you haven't read the Harry Potter books, then. Dolores Umbridge isn't a 'minor character'; she's a major evil character in one of the books who spends most of that book physically torturing Harry as punishment. I found that book very hard to read - it was sickening - and I very much doubt that anyone who reads those books as a child or teenager will ever be able to disassociate the name Dolores from the cruelty in that book.
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
1
Agreed.
1
No, I haven't read the books. I gathered that the character was not a good one. :-(
Witches / bad characters have some of the best names, to me. (Ex: Ursula, Drusilla, Damien.)
But I take your point. I just really hate that one fictional character could cause so much harm to an innocent name. Are we really so weak and impressionable?
Witches / bad characters have some of the best names, to me. (Ex: Ursula, Drusilla, Damien.)
But I take your point. I just really hate that one fictional character could cause so much harm to an innocent name. Are we really so weak and impressionable?
1
I agree
Sadly, whether the person is real or fiction, people are influenced by who bears a particular name.
Dolores Umbridge was a totally frightful over the top baddy who was far from being a minor character, she tortured the hero both physically and mentally. also she was described as looking like a fat toad.
Fans of the book probably concider her character to be just as famous as Guinevere or Juliet only with none of their redemming features. They will find it difficult to put that association aside.
Personally I rather like the name Dolores / Delores, but then I have different associations with it to counter the Umbridge one
Sadly, whether the person is real or fiction, people are influenced by who bears a particular name.
Dolores Umbridge was a totally frightful over the top baddy who was far from being a minor character, she tortured the hero both physically and mentally. also she was described as looking like a fat toad.
Fans of the book probably concider her character to be just as famous as Guinevere or Juliet only with none of their redemming features. They will find it difficult to put that association aside.
Personally I rather like the name Dolores / Delores, but then I have different associations with it to counter the Umbridge one
This message was edited 3/20/2006, 3:29 PM
1
My thoughts exactly
Magistra mundi sum!
1
Dolores has always been appealing to me. However, I'd probably only use it as a mn, just because, even though we may think it works, I don't think everyone would agree. Dolly is a nice nn.
Doris is lovely! I've always thought of it as pretty, even though it seems a bit old fashioned! And it's non-popularity makes it more appealing! I think it's lovely.
Their are some -is names that I like- Doris, Avis, Mavis, Damaris, Phyllis, Jarvis, & Denis, among others. In general, I like them.
I can't decide which I like better- Dolores or Doris. Right now, I'll go with Doris, but I love both.
Andrew
Doris is lovely! I've always thought of it as pretty, even though it seems a bit old fashioned! And it's non-popularity makes it more appealing! I think it's lovely.
Their are some -is names that I like- Doris, Avis, Mavis, Damaris, Phyllis, Jarvis, & Denis, among others. In general, I like them.
I can't decide which I like better- Dolores or Doris. Right now, I'll go with Doris, but I love both.
Andrew
1